Sappho and Anacreon in Plato’s Phaedrus

Abstract

Plato’s praise of the poets Sappho and Anacreon at Phaedrus 235c is a sincere tribute to their vivid presentations of the shock of love. Allusions to the lyric poets in the prologue and Socrates’ narrative of soul support Plato’s exploration of the relationship between mania and self-control. Plato analyses the power-dynamic within a soul experiencing erotic desire and in response to the poets creates an intricate picture of how the force and energy of eros is absorbed, transferred and redirected.

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